Wednesday, 20 October 1858
Dully ― dreary day ― foggious ― yet not wet.
Wrote early ―. Breakfast. Talk of Leighton, Rome, &c. ― for this is the only time I have to see H.H. quietly.
Painted hard from 10 to 4 on Lord C.’s Jerusalem, & better nor normal. ― At 5 bus to Holborn, & walked to Wyatt’s by 6 ― dinner postponed to 7. Only “Charles Munby” & Mrs. C.M. ― & after dinner, T. Landseer, cheerful & kind as ever. (How queerly the Vigors & Hobbys days come back by hearing & seeing him!)
Cab to Tor Villa by 11.45. ― H.H. up. The incubus of R. gone. ― Letters from Fairbairn ―: Sir J. Potter is I fear dying: ― kind good heart. ― Arthur Empson ― nice & friendly conversational ― Buchner ― name & address of agent ― and Gibbs, about his drawings.
[Transcribed by Marco Graziosi from Houghton Library, Harvard University, MS Eng. 797.3.]
As a faithful reader of these entries in all their mundanity, the word “foggious” stands out like a beacon at night. At last a peep from the area of Lear’s mind that produced “The Dong with the Luminous Nose” and a gallimaufry of nonce terms.